Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-22
DEMOCR ATTIC CAUCUS.
orowrye sfNsIgEwr IN Favor or
TH1 cossrItUrIoHAL
AMEsDxEEr.
interchange Of Opinion. bat No vots
Taken on the Debt Question
Last Night.

The Democratic members Of the Gen
eral Assembly met in conference last
night in the hall OF the House OF Dele
pates to discuss the public-dcbt ques-
,;on and kindred matters. The rain
was falling fast at the hour of assem-
bling. but such was the interest felt
that the attendance was large.
II was agreed that no vote should be
taken until future meeting, and every
member was invited TO express his
views--sn opportunity which many ac-
ccpted.
TIKI CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Rhea submitted his constitutional
amendment which he proposed at the
last session and which he has again in
PRODUCED in the Senate.
IL means. in brief, that the people
shall be allowed tovote upon an amend
ment TO the State Constitution, pro-
yiding that after given time oil ont.
standing bonds and interest not funded
into new SIS shall be barred; that no
future Legislature shall have the power
TO make provision fer payment OF them,
or any part of them.
Lieutenant Governor Massey favored
such an amendment. but mean while he
desired the General Assembly to pass q
Joint resolution instructing the Second
Auditor and Treasurer to fund no bonds
a.
not offered in six months.
Mr.. Massey wants the Legislature to
act without delay. Then, afterwards,
the constitutional amendment could be
submitted, and itwould be seen whether
the people approved OF the limitation
upon funding.
WOULD COMPROMISE.
Mr.. Koiner expressed himself last
night as exceedingly sverse to the con-
stitutional amendment and other ex-
IRENE legislation proposed, and said
that he thought that il the creditors
would compromise upon the basis of
attaching . per cent. tax-recelvable
coupons 10 the Riddleberger bonds
that it would be far better for the State
TO settle on that basis than to continue
Obstructive legislation.
ID has been said in some quarters
not by authority, however-that the
bondholders might be induced TO settle
on these terms.
DOWN WITH TAXES.
Mr.. James Barbour suggested that
the taxes be lowered % per cent. and
that the State continue by all available
measures to resist the demands of the
creditors.
Mr.. Gordon spoke in favor of the
amendment ; Mr. Mccormick against it.
Mr.. Lovenstein said that he thought
il was a measure that should be settled
in the caucus, and that he was ready to
support any measure agreed upon.
Hon. John l.. Hurt also spoke, but
lis views could not be learned. He is
probably against the amendment
II was not so formally resolved upon
last night, but the voice Of the confer
ence seemed to be that Democratic
members would support whatever mea-
sure should be hereafter determined
upon by the conference, and then they
adjourned to meet tomorrow night.
THB GIsT OF IT.
The temper OF last nights conference
quite clearly showed that a very large
number Of members favor submitting
the amendment to the people. They
say that the people demand to be al
lowed to vote on the question, and
whether or no it will stand the test of
the courts is not for the Legislature to
determine.
"THR COUPON CRUsHsR."
The bill introduced in the House by
Mr.. Pollard and the nearly similar one
introduced in the Senate by Mr.. Koi-
ner-each being in substance the mea-
sure referred to by the Governor in his
message-was much talked about In
last nights caucus. Some OF its fea-
lures are much objected to, but it will
probably be adopted, possibly with
some amendments.
DEBT COMMISSION.
There is q growing feeling that the
debt.commission plan and the constitu-
tional amendment can go together hand
finland.
A leading member said yesterday
that the commission could explain
TO the bondholders how the people OF
Virginia had been goaded to this step,
and how futile it would be for the
creditors to hope to extort from the
citizens OF the State any better settle
ment than that offered in the Riddle
berger bill.
The State Democratic Committee will
meet here Thursday, and it is not likely
that between this time and that the
General Assembly will take any deci-
sive step in the direction of debt mea-
sures.
The Mozart Last Evening.